Aware that many nonprofits are struggling for survival, wildlife biologist Che Frausto launched Advance Wildlife Education to raise awareness and funds in support of Hawaii’s endangered animals through the sale of products such as coloring books that he illustrates and printed clutches created in collaboration with Aiko Wan of Haku Ai Designs.

Working with the Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, Frausto said group projects can be like preaching to the choir, with the same members showing up all the time for habitat restoration events. But he had an epiphany last summer, when the Maui community was invited to take part in a Kihei beach cleanup.

“It was the first time they learned about albatrosses that can sleep and fly at the same time, and that uau kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters) can dive 200 feet underwater. During fall-out season, when chicks leave their nests, they use stars to navigate, but city lights confuse them and cause them to crash to the ground,” Frausto said.

“Everyone loves animals and wants to help, but they can’t protect something if they don’t know a problem exists. Once they know, they get interested in the birds. With outreach and education, people now know who to call when they find lost or injured birds.”

Frausto, a wildlife biologist with a gift for illustration, decided to combine his two talents to create a series of Hawaiian wildlife, marine life and seabird coloring books packed with information and photographs.

Ten percent to 20 percent of proceeds from each item sold will support a different cause. Sales of the Makai Hawaiian Marine Life Education Coloring Book will benefit the Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Ke Kai Ola (the Marine Mammal Center’s Hawaiian monk seal hospital), Project S.E.A-Link, and Kahoolawe Island Seabird Restoration Project.

Sales of a Haku Ai seabird-print clutch will benefit the Maui Nui seabird project, while an albatross-print clutch will benefit Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

“It’s art and fashion for a good cause,” said Wan, who knew nothing about seabirds before starting the project. “I did a pigeon print in 2013 because it was the only bird I saw in my daily life. Now I recognize them all.”

Frausto’s aim is to help other nonprofits create fundraising products. “With government cutbacks, our work is even more important now,” he said.

AWE products can be found at Bishop Museum, Paradise Park, Lyon Arboretum, the Honolulu Zoo, Maui Clothing Co., and online here.